“Whether or not the next election will be conducted by universal suffrage, the central government will not point out ‘this is the person the central government wants’,” he quoted the official as saying.

“As long as the candidates are acceptable to the central government – candidates A, B and C – they will be in fair competition,” he added.

The Chief Executive Office. Photo: Wikicommons.

Leung’s interview published on Thursday also touched on his performance as Chief Executive in the past four years. Leung said the work of the current administration has benefited middle class and the common people.

“No matter who is the next chief executive, I believe the next government should not stray from our policies,” he said.

But he also told the newspaper that the government had not done some of its work well enough.

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